At the age of 47, David Twiddle has more than 25 years’ experience of both working in, and advising, high-growth entrepreneur-led and family owned businesses.

Mr Twiddle embarked on a career in recruitment in the 1990s which saw him found, build and successfully exit one of the largest independent recruitment firms in the UK. Under Mr Twiddle's leadership, the business grew to almost £35 million turnover and employed around 180 people in under 10 years. A partial sale to 3i Plc later led to a highly successful trade sale to Imprint Plc in 2005.

Today, Mr Twiddle is founder and chairman of Renovo Employment Group, a family owned group of employment-related businesses that includes Twiddle & Co, a Board Advisory, Executive Search and Leadership consultancy exclusively for private and family owned businesses.

Mr Twiddle spends the majority of his time working directly with clients, using his own experiences to help both entrepreneurs and family businesses owners overcome the people challenges that growth inevitably brings.

Mr Twiddle is a past semi-finalist in the Sunday Times / EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and in 2009 was recognised as one of Yorkshire’s leading entrepreneurs under the age of 42. As such, his expertise on all employment matters in relation to private and family business is actively sought by entrepreneurs, family business owners and the media alike.


What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

"After visiting Simpsons of Piccadilly in London, aged eight, I decided that I wanted to own and run a chain of department stores!

"There is something about retail that fascinates me, although I have never even worked in a shop! I love working with retail clients and understanding their business models, particularly as the sector is changing so rapidly."


Greatest achievement?

"My greatest achievement to date has to be building my first business, Morgan McKinley, an executive recruitment business. Two of us started the business sat on the floor of a tiny office with two of the very first mobile phones.

"From there, we grew the business to over £35 million turnover within 10 years and employed almost 200 people before selling the business to a Plc. It was very gratifying to watch those who had joined us as fresh graduates end up running the business eventually."

What makes you most angry?

"People who don’t try and give up too easily or who think the world owes them a living."


Biggest mistake?

"Lots of competition here! I think probably deciding to sell my first business when I did – I was too young (at 37 and could probably have taken it further."


What do you need to make life complete?

"A cliché, I know, but it is family. I am a big believer that if the family unit is solid then you can deal with anything that life throws at you."


Why do you make a difference?

"Easy. I help entrepreneurs and family business owners access people who can transform their businesses. Not just people with the right set of skills but those who are fully aligned with their own values and the culture of the firm. As one client said to me recently “If they have the right skills we can go a long way with them, if they have the same values, then anything is possible!”"


Epitaph

"The best son, brother, father and husband anyone could ask for!"